Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Since a federal ban on assault-style rifles expired in 2004, gun control groups, lawmakers and law enforcement agencies have been fighting to reinstate the ban.

The ban, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and expired in 2004 under President George W. Bush, targeted semiautomatic assault weapons and ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds at a time.

Supporters argue the ban reduced gun crime in America. To support the claim, The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence cites the amount of gun traces. Specifically, the group cites data released by the National Institute of Justice, which indicated trace requests for assault weapons dropped 20 percent between 1993 and 1995.

Supporters also argue police officer murders by criminals with assault weapons declined from 16 percent of gun murders of police in 1994 and early 1995 to zero in the second half of 1995 to 1996.

Barbara Montgomery, president of the Brady Campaign's Pennsylvania Chapter of the Million Mom March, said semiautomatic weapons are for killing, not recreation.

"Every police chief agrees there should be a federal assault weapons ban," Montgomery said. "We have such a groundswell of support by police in this state because they're really outgunned."

Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and the Pennsylvania State Police also support a statewide assault weapons ban. State police Maj. William McHale said there is no reason someone would need to own a semiautomatic assault rifle.

"I can't understand why anyone would need an assault rifle other than law enforcement or the military. I just can't understand it. … We're all in support of the Second Amendment, but you're certainly not going to hunt with an assault rifle," McHale said. "Criminals really don't care where (bullets) go. These are very dangerous pieces of equipment." [emphasis added]...President-elect Barack Obama has said he would reinstate the semiautomatic assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

Those who oppose the ban have challenged supporters' argument the law caused a reduction in gun crime. The National Rifle Association says the fact Congress did not reinstate the ban when it expired in 2004 is proof it did nothing to reduce gun violence.

"After 10 years of being on the books, it was decided by Congress, based on a number of studies, that the law was ineffective in reducing crime," said NRA Spokesman Andrew Arulanandam.

Tredyffrin Detective Les Neri, president of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, said the only people who follow firearm bans are those who obey the law, therefore they do not address the criminals who obtain firearms illegally.